Neighbours showering at 1am - what can I do?

Norman_Castle

MoonChild91 said:

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the responses, I unfortunately had another night of it last night - the 3rd in a row this week:

1.45am - thundering up the stairs, bathroom door slams, shower and fan go on. Followed by 25 minutes of shower noise, a solid attempt at singing Mariah Careys back catalog, shower door slams, bathroom cupboards slam, then 10 to 15 minutes of whoever it was clearly stood at the bathroom door having a chat with their housemate by shouting down the stairs. I didn't get back to sleep until 3am, and I am exhausted.
Honestly, the shower noise itself is bad but it's the accompaniments that go with it that might be worse. There is absolutely no attempt whatsoever to understand or act on the fact that is antisocial hours or try to be quieter - I'm sure most people who work shifts wouldn't thunder about when they get home in the early hours? I certainly wouldn't.

Ask to speak to whoever had a shower last night and quote your list to them. Explain how it wakes you and prevents you sleeping. Tell them you work at a university, they might see you differently.

They're clearly (spoilt) kids with a lot to learn. If one is gobby about neighbour complaints they will be leading the others. They know they're renting for a limited time and are choosing to behave like this as they know it wont cost them anything.

teachfast

It's stereo on loud at 7am time.

Natbag

Showering at 2am is acceptable, but slamming doors, singing and shouting into other rooms at your housemates when you don't live in a detached property isn't. It's selfish, especially when they have been previously asked to be more considerate of their neighbours. Sadly there isn't much you can do if they're of the attitude that they will do what they like when they like, other than wait for them to move out or move out yourself.

teachfast

Natbag said:

Showering at 2am is acceptable, but slamming doors, singing and shouting into other rooms at your housemates when you don't live in a detached property isn't. It's selfish, especially when they have been previously asked to be more considerate of their neighbours. Sadly there isn't much you can do if they're of the attitude that they will do what they like when they like, other than wait for them to move out or move out yourself.

Or play your favourite tunes at 0730 when they are trying to sleep off their hangovers.

teachfast

Also, watch out for their parents when they arrive to pick them up. They are likely to be much more understanding of your situation (except the gobby one, her parent will be a nightmare also - but unlikely to pick her up anyway).

MobileSaver

MoonChild91 said:

think they can do what they like. 

Unfortunately, regardless of how annoying or distressing it is for you, with regards to the time they wish to shower they can do what they like unless the shower noise is excessively loud.

You have no more right to force them not to shower at night than they do to force you not to shower in a morning when they are trying to sleep after partying all night...

As others have said, I'm afraid your only real option is to move and hope your next home has more considerate neighbours.

[Deleted User]

Natbag said:

Showering at 2am is acceptable, but slamming doors, singing and shouting into other rooms at your housemates when you don't live in a detached property isn't. It's selfish, especially when they have been previously asked to be more considerate of their neighbours. Sadly there isn't much you can do if they're of the attitude that they will do what they like when they like, other than wait for them to move out or move out yourself.

This is it in a nutshell. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to change the behaviour of neighbours, especially if they think they're just going about their lives and not aware of the impact their noise is having. Best to find ways to deal with it in the interim and then move when it's possible to do so.

MovingForwards

Small consolation is you rent and don't need to worry about selling.

Rearrange the bedroom furniture, even if the room feels smaller and things are placed in odd locations.

Bang on the door when the person is slamming around, tell them to keep it down.

Keep a noise diary and contact the council.

3 months will soon fly and then you will hopefully be in your next rental. Don't look at areas where there's student's, it may be convenient for work, maybe the next one's won't be as bad, but do you think it's worth the risk? Although there's a risk any neighbour, owned or rented, will do exactly the same or worse.

saajan_12

People are entitled to live / shower / talk at whatever timescale they like, so those aren't inherently actionable. The council can help with extreme noise eg partying, not normal living noise. The LL has no responsibility over their tenants' behaviour (and this wouldn't be an option if they were owner occupiers). Besides, there is little they could do, as this wouldn't be grounds for Section 8 eviction, and Section 21 would take months. 

What you really have is unneighbourly behaviour - the options are to 
* go over and talk / convince them to stop (maybe with your own loud noise!)
* insulate your side
* move

ic

Earplugs.  You can get ones that fit within your ear so that you can still lie on your side if that's how you sleep.  They'll take a few nights to get used to, but they can make a massive difference.  I was on holiday in NYC and there was a building site across the road, that fired up every day at 6 am - earplugs solved it for me.

Otherwise switch rooms so you're adjoining another room - however you might find you're just having to contend with other nocturnal noises instead.